Tennessee Vols: Ranking the top 10 players in UT's 2019 signing class

The Tennessee Vols wrapped up their 2019 signing class on Wednesday by landing five-star offensive tackle Darnell Wright. With Wright's signing, Tennessee has the No. 12 class in the nation (247 Sports). Jeremy Pruitt and his staff addressed a lot of glaring needs in this recruiting class. They signed six offensive linemen, including two who […]

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Tennessee Vols wrapped up their 2019 signing class on Wednesday by landing five-star offensive tackle Darnell Wright.

With Wright's signing, Tennessee has the No. 12 class in the nation (247 Sports).

Jeremy Pruitt and his staff addressed a lot of glaring needs in this recruiting class. They signed six offensive linemen, including two who could start immediately in Wright and Wanya Morris. They also added four defensive linemen, which was important with the loss of several seniors up front.

Tennessee's 2019 class represents a program that's continuing to inch forward. Pruitt isn't going to turn things around overnight. But if he continues to identify and sign talent like he did with the 2019 class, it won't be long before winning seasons are the norm again on Rocky Top.

With that in mind, here are the top ten players in Tennessee's 2019 recruiting class.

(Note: All rankings are via 247Sports composite rankings.)

Top 10 players in Tennessee's 2019 class –>>>>

Featured image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

10. Tyus Fields — Cornerback — 4-Star

Height/Weight: 5-10, 191 lbs

Rating: No. 26 CB, No. 7 in state of NC

Hometown: Cornelius, NC (William Amos Hough)

I think Tyus Fields is one of the more underrated players in Tennessee's 2019 recruiting class.

For starters, Fields doesn't have the height that Jeremy Pruitt typically desires in his defensive backs. But instead of viewing that as a negative, I think it shows just how much Pruitt values Fields' abilities (he can reportedly run the 40 in 4.4 seconds).

As an aside, it's impressive that Pruitt was able to land Fields over Clemson, considering his brother Mark Fields Jr signed with the Tigers in 2015 (Mark Fields Sr, who played in the NFL for ten seasons, is Fields' father).

Image via 247Sports

9. Eric Gray — Running Back — 4-Star

Height/Weight: 5-10, 194 lbs

Rating: No. 3 APB, No. 5 in state of TN

Hometown: Memphis, TN (Lausanne Collegiate School)

Tennessee's had some rough seasons in recent years, but they've consistently had solid running backs on the roster.

Eric Gray should continue that tradition.

Gray has a smaller frame for a running back, but he has plenty of strength. Smaller running backs have had plenty of success in the NFL recently, so I don't think Gray's size is necessarily a negative.

The Memphis native rushed for 5,650 yards and 85 touchdowns over his final two seasons at the high school level.

Image via 247Sports

8. Jaylen McCollough — Safety — 4-Star

Height/Weight: 6-0, 194 lbs

Rating: No. 14 S, No. 20 in state of GA

Hometown: Powder Springs, GA (Hillgrove)

Jaylen McCollough is a highly rated, athletic safety who will play for Jeremy Pruitt.

That sentence should be music to the ears of Vol fans.

Pruitt has a knack for developing talented safeties into NFL caliber players. McCollough has the talent to be another success story on Pruitt's resumé.

Tennessee fans should be very happy the Vols landed McCollough over Alabama, Georgia and others.

Image via 247Sports

7. Ramel Keyton — Wide Receiver — 4-Star

Height/Weight: 6-3, 185 lbs

Rating: No. 17 WR, No. 13 in state of GA

Hometown: Marietta, GA (Marietta)

Ramel Keyton won't be the fastest wide receiver on the field, but he's incredibly productive and he's a polished player.

Keyton, who was one of the Vols' ten early enrollees, totaled 3,335 yards and 33 touchdowns during his final three seasons in high school. Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider that Keyton missed the final five games of his senior season due to an ankle injury.

The Georgia native should have an impact as a true freshman for Tennessee in 2019.

Image via 247Sports

6. Roman Harrison — Defensive End — 4-Star

Height/Weight: 6-2, 235 lbs

Rating: No. 18 WDE, No. 32 in state of GA

Hometown: Bainbridge, GA (Bainbridge)

I'm probably higher on Roman Harrison than most, but I think he has the potential to be one of the best players in Tennessee's 2019 recruiting class.

Harrison already has the physique of a SEC player. Some time in Craig Fitzgerald's training program is only going to help Harrison become a better player.

I see the Georgia native as a pass rushing outside linebacker at Tennessee, that could also line up at defensive end if needed.

Harrison wasn't an early enrollee, so he doesn't have the benefit of going through spring practice. However, I still think he can make an impact as a true freshman.

Image via Twitter

5. Jackson Lampley — Offensive Guard — 4-Star

Height/Weight: 6-4, 300 lbs

Rating: No. 14 OG, No. 8 in state of TN

Hometown: Nashville, TN (Montgomery Bell Academy)

The two big offensive tackles are going to get most of the spotlight, but Jackson Lampley is a very important signing for the Vols.

Lampley will provide immediate depth along the Vols' offensive line. And it probably won't be long before he's starting (he's not an early enrollee, so that could hold him back a bit).

The Nashville native also had offers from Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, among others.

Image via 247Sports

4. Quavaris Crouch — Linebacker/Running Back — 4-Star

Height/Weight: 6-1, 237 lbs

Rating: No. 3 ATH, No. 1 in state of NC

Hometown: Charlotte, NC (Harding University)

Landing Crouch over Clemson was absolutely huge for the Vols.

For Tennessee to be successful, they need to have a strong recruiting presence in North Carolina. That's an easy challenge with Clemson always in the mix.

Signing the top player in the Tar Heel state certainly qualifies as a "strong recruiting presence".

Crouch could play either at running back or linebacker, but the Vols primarily see him as a linebacker. He has the speed to be one of the top defensive players in the SEC, as long as he can stay healthy (an ankle injury caused him to miss the bulk of his senior season in high school).

Image via 247Sports

3. Henry To'oto'o — Linebacker — 4-Star

Height/Weight: 6-2, 230 lbs

Rating: No. 3 OLB, No. 7 in state of CA

Hometown: Concord, CA (De La Salle)

To'oto'o's signing was the surprise of the day for the Vols.

Alabama and Washington appeared to be the favorites to land To'oto'o, but a relationship with former Vol Kevin Simon, along with tight ends coach Brian Niedermeyer and Jeremy Pruitt, helped the Vols land the California native.

To'oto'o gives Tennessee another elite linebacker (along with Crouch) that should help make the Volunteers' defense one of the most feared in the SEC East in the coming years.

2. Wanya Morris — Offensive Tackle — 5-Star

Height/Weight: 6-6, 312 lbs

Rating: No. 6 OT, No. 5 in state of GA

Hometown: Loganville, GA (Grayson)

Wanya Morris is one of the co-headliners in Tennessee's 2018 recruiting class.

The Georgia native, who enrolled early at UT, has the potential to be a four year starter for the Vols (much like Ja'Wuan James). His status as an early enrollee should allow him to start as a true freshman.

Tennessee desperately needs offensive linemen who can dominate the line of scrimmage. I guess it's a good thing they got two in this class….

Image via 247Sports

1. Darnell Wright — Offensive Tackle — 5-Star

Height/Weight: 6-6, 320 lbs

Rating: No. 2 OT, No. 1 in state of WV

Hometown: Huntington, WV (Huntington)

Signing both Darnell Wright and Wanya Morris is the best thing Jeremy Pruitt's done so far as Tennessee's head coach.

Wright, along with Morris, has the potential to change the trajectory of the Vols' football program.

Tennessee was never able to find a consistent rhythm on offense last season because they weren't able to run block or pass protect. Wright, one of the best offensive lineman recruits the nation, should help to immediately remedy that issue for the Volunteers.

Image via 247Sports